Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid is a great novel about family, relationship, and history. I don’t know if I would call this book historical fiction even though most of it takes place in the 1980’s no major historical events happen but you can feel the decade in the narrative. Taylor Jenkins Reid’s gift is getting to care about characters so fast, I don’y know how she does it but I’m drawn in almost instantly, and the same thing happen with Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo. The theme of directions and history repeating it self was layered through out, there was a subtitle passage about one character not turning a blinker and it is because at that moment his life has no direction. This novel is an emotional ride, there’s so many highs and lows like a surfer’s wave. The narrative bounces between the past and the present, we see the patterns and the life repeating itself in the past then in the present. when we get to the big party scene the narrative doesn’t just focus on the family but does vignettes of many party guest. I do feel it dipped into too many lives at the party which is my only real complaint about the book. For a non-mystery there are so many twists and secrets you find out about this family that are written so well, and as I’ve already stated I cared about these characters and some of the twists and secrets hit you hard. The Climax was really well and focused on the right story, it didn’t wrap up every thing in a bow but you were left with a feeling the character would be okay. The focus of Taylor Jenkins Reid’s next book is a minor character in this that was the least sympathetic Carrie Soto the tennis pro and the other woman to one character. I know this character will have layers in Reid’s hand so call me a little intrigued, I did put in for the advanced reader’s copy on Netgalley but Reid’s books are in high demand. This book did win the Goodreads choice for best historical fiction of 2021.

The Plot Summary: In the Summer of 1983 Malibu, California the Riva siblings are throwing a massive annual invite only party. This party will be there last together. The siblings Nina (surf supermodel), Jay (professional surfer), Hud (professional photographer for taking picture of Jay), and Kit (soon to be surfer) are the children of a famous 1950’s singer Mick Riva (think Frank Sinatra level). A series of flashbacks will show the interesting relationship of the sibling’s mother and father which look similar to the way their life is heading, if they make the same choices. This party will be one for the ages and might change lives.

What I Liked: The story is such an emotional roller coaster that you the reader feel every up and down. The characters are so great you feel like one of the family while reading it. The secrets and twist really drive the narrative I gasped once because I was so invested. The setting is really neat, I used to live in Santa Monica which is the next town over from there and they did a fantastic job of describing it. I like the tiny 80’s pop culture references, I will say there was no surfer talk which I was okay with it still felt very early 80’s. I liked the way it was told and the rapid pace of the story. I liked that everything was left unfinished but you came away from the novel going these characters will be alright.

What I Disliked: When the book gets to the party it starts telling little vignettes of about some of the people in attendance, I liked half of them but some were easily unforgettable, and were not needed at all. There might be 10 and I feel 5 might have been better as it distracted from the main story line I was really enjoying.

Recommendation: Malibu Rising is a great book that will give you all the feels. I recommend you check this book out. Malibu Rising joins Daisy Jones and the Six and The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo as can’t put down, fun, and emotional roller coasters of books. I rated Malibu Rising by Taylor Jenkins Reid 5 out of 5 stars. The order out of the three Taylor Jenkins Reid books that I have read from favorite to least favorite (I have rated them all 5 stars) The Seven Husbands of Evelyn Hugo, Daisy Jones and the Six, and then Malibu Raising.